College notes

Otterbein University senior wide receiver Hunter Joseph (New Philadelphia) has been invited to participate in the eighth annual National Bowl, scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 10, in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The National Bowl, presented by SPIRAL, was created in 2009 to help showcase the top college football players around the country from non-FBS schools. This year’s event will take place at Daytona Beach Municipal Stadium, a 9,600-seat, multi-purpose facility that is home to Bethune-Cookman University.

Last year, 14 NFL franchises and five CFL organizations were represented at the event, leading to 23 different players signing a contract of some sort.

The day will feature a doubleheader, beginning with the National Bowl at 9:30 a.m. that encompasses 130 of the top players from Divisions II and III. The athletes will be separated into two groups of 65, with teams scheduled to be announced soon.

The Tropical Bowl, featuring FCS invitees, will then follow at 1:30 p.m. Select players from each team in the first game will be asked to stay and compete in the FCS contest.

Joseph busted onto the scene in Westerville after transferring from Ohio Dominican prior to his junior campaign, ultimately snagging 89 passes for 1,488 yards and 15 touchdowns in two seasons. He was a first team All-Ohio Athletic Conference pick in 2016 and followed that up with second-team recognition this past fall.

“I’m blessed to receive this chance to play again and represent multiple people,” Joseph said. “I’m excited to test my talents against some of the best in the nation and see if I can get my name on a larger scale. This is a great opportunity and it will not be taken for granted, because who knows what can happen.”

Contini helped ODU win the 2017 G-MAC Championship with its 49-24 win over Findlay as the Panthers rolled up 516 yards in the game.

Contini, who was named the G-MAC Offensive Back of the Year in addition to earning First Team All-Great Midwest Conference accolades, closed the year with 72 catches for 1,186 yards and 14 touchdowns. Entering the postseason, Contini ranked fifth in the country in touchdowns, sixth in yards per game (118.6) and 13th in catches per game (7.2). He was also 33rd in the nation in all-purpose yards per game (135.4).

In ODU's single-season records, he had the second-most touchdowns, third-most yards and fourth-most catches of any Panther, while his receptions per game are a school-record for a season. For his career, he has 147 catches (sixth in ODU history), 2,289 yards (fifth) and 22 touchdowns (fourth).

* Coming off of its best season in NCAA Division II, Walsh volleyball’s Head Coach Kassie Kadera is excited to announce the signings of six players during the early signing period.

Among them is Tusky Valley senior Alexis Gilland, who has signed her national letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic careers in Maroon and Gold.

Gilland is a 5-foot-10 attacker who is effective on both the outside and the right side pin.

In all four seasons of high school, Alexis earned First Team All-District 5 honors. She was also awarded Honorable Mention, Second Team, and First Team All-Ohio during her career, as well as earning Principals' Athletic Conference, First Team All-Inter-Valley Conference, and The Times-Reporter Best of Preps Tusc Player of the Year honors. She was the No. 1 hitter in Ohio across division by Max Preps, MVP for three of her four years, and notched the most kills on her team for all four years. Alexis plays club volleyball for Club Xtreme.

“Alexis brings a fearless, extremely competitive, drive and attitude to this program that will fit in well with where this team is headed. Her versatility on both pins, will give her many opportunities to be successful. Keep an eye out for Alexis to compete for a job on either pin this upcoming season,” added Kadera.

* Behind senior forward Moriah Monaco's 23-point performance on 62-percent shooting, the Ball State Cardinals remained undefeated (6-0) with their 87-75 victory over in-state rival Butler (4-4) Wednesday in Worthen Arena. Monaco (Dover) has now scored in double figures 60 times in her career.

* Dalton Bolon (Indian Valley) knocked down 20 points to lead seven double-figure scorers as the unbeaten and No. 7-ranked West Liberty University men's team continued its impressive early-season run Wednesday with a 115-86 blowout of Urbana in Mountain East Conference action at home in the Grimes Center.

Coach Ben Howlett's Hilltoppers (6-0, 3-0) led virtually wire-to-wire in breezing past the century mark for the sixth time in as many games this season.

* Audrey Tingle (Ridgewood) scored 10 points for the West Liberty University women's basketball team in a 92-84 loss to Urbana on Wednesday.

COMPILED BY ROGER METZGER, Times-Reporter sports editor

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